Metal cleaning composition and process that do not damage plastic

ABSTRACT

An aqueous liquid composition containing dihydrogen phosphate salt, sulfur containing surfactant, and preferably a small amount of phosphoric acid cleans soiled metal surfaces without damaging any plastic parts that come into contact with the composition with the composition and without supporting the growth of bacteria that cause unpleasant odors. The composition is particularly useful for cleaning unpainted aluminum sided rail transport cars that have polycarbonate housings insulating electrical contact points that provide motive electric power to the cars; many conventional aqueous alkaline and acid cleaners promote stress cracking of polycarbonate plastics.

This is a national stage application of PCT/US95/09687 filed Aug. 8,1995.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to cleaning metal surfaces, both painted andunpainted, more particularly when the metal surfaces are adjacent toelements of plastic, especially polycarbonate plastic, which issusceptible to stress cracking when repeatedly contacted with manyconventional metal cleaning compositions. This invention also relates tocleaning compositions that are useful in such cleaning processes, arenot overly acidic or alkaline, and are not susceptible to developingundesirable odors from micro-organisms that readily come into contactwith the compositions during normal storage or use.

2. Statement of Related Art

A very wide variety of cleaning compositions are known in the art. Fewif any of these compositions, however, are known to be capable offulfilling all the desiderata noted above, particularly for railroadcars that are powered by electricity. Such cars, like other railroadcars, come into contact with a wide variety of atmospheric pollutantsand air-borne soils that often lead to rapid deterioration in theaesthetic appearance of the exteriors of the cars. Ordinary rail carsthat do not supply their own motive power can be readily cleaned by avariety of cleaners, usually most readily by fairly highly alkalinecleaners. However, rail cars that are directly powered by electricity, atype especially frequently used in mass transit operations, generallyhave housings of polycarbonate plastic on their exterior surfaces toprotect electrical contacts that supply power to move the cars from a"third rail", overhead power line, or the like. This plastic readilydevelops stress cracks when contacted repeatedly by many alkalinesolutions, including some of the most generally effective aqueous metalcleaning compositions. Such large vehicles can most conveniently becleaned by sprayers, but it is a practical impossibility in many casesto protect any plastic parts of the exterior surface from contact with asprayed cleaner composition, and frequent replacements of the plasticinsulating housings are economically unacceptable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Object of the Invention

Major objects of the present invention are to provide compositionsand/or processes that (i) effectively clean painted and unpainted metalsurfaces, (ii) do not damage any plastic materials, particularlypolycarbonate plastic insulating housings, that are adjacent to themetal surfaces to be cleaned, (iii) are not susceptible to becomingmalodorous as a result of infestation from commonly ambientmicro-organisms, and (iv) do not have a pH lower than about 3 or higherthan about 9, so as to minimize the likelihood of personal injuries toworkers using the cleaners. A subsidiary object is to brighten unpaintedaluminum surfaces, particularly those of Type 6061 T6 aluminum, that arecleaned using the compositions. Other objects will be apparent from thedescription below.

General Principles of Description

Except in the claims and the specific examples, or where otherwiseexpressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this descriptionindicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction and/or use areto be understood as modified by the word "about" in describing thebroadest scope of the invention. Practice within the numerical limitsstated is generally preferred, however. Also, unless expressly stated tothe contrary: percent, "parts of", and ratio values are by weight; theterm "polymer" includes "oligomer", "co-polymer", "terpolymer", and thelike; the first definition or description of the meaning of a word,phrase, acronym, abbreviation or the like applies to all subsequent usesof the same word, phrase, acronym, abbreviation or the like and applies,mutatis mutandis, to normal grammatical variations thereof; thedescription of a group or class of materials as suitable or preferredfor a given purpose in connection with the invention implies thatmixtures of any two or more of the members of the group or class areequally suitable or preferred; chemical descriptions of neutralmaterials apply to the materials at the time of addition to anycombination specified in the description and do not necessarily precludechemical changes to the materials as a result of reaction in thecombination; specification of materials in ionic form means that thematerials are supplied to prepare the compositions containing them inthe form of soluble salts containing the ions specified and implies thepresence in any composition specified to contain ionic materials ofsufficient counterions to produce electrical neutrality for thecomposition as a whole; and any counterions thus implicitly specifiedpreferably are selected from among other constituents explicitlyspecified in ionic form, to the extent possible; otherwise suchcounterions may be freely selected, except for avoiding counterions thatact adversely to the objects of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Liquid cleaning compositions according to the invention have a pH valuebetween 3 and 9 and comprise, preferably consist essentially of, or morepreferably consist of, water and:

(A) dihydrogen phosphate ions and

(B) a component of surfactant(s), preferably resistant to attack bymicro-organisms; and, optionally, one or more of:

(C) a component of acid(s) that are stronger acids than dihydrogenphosphate ions and that are not part of any of the preceding components;

(D) a component of antifoam agent(s), other than those that are part ofany of the preceding components;

(E) odorants and/or colorants, other than those that are part of any ofthe preceding components.

These compositions according to the invention may either be workingcompositions, suitable for direct use in cleaning, or concentratecompositions, suitable for dilution with additional water to produce aworking composition.

A process according to the invention comprises at least a step ofcontacting a soiled metal surface with a liquid cleaning compositionaccording to the invention as defined herein and maintaining sufficientrelative motion between the liquid cleaning composition and the soiledmetal surface to remove some of the soil from the surface by dissolvingand/or dispersing the soil in the liquid cleaning composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, INCLUDING PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Compositions according to the invention preferably have no evidence ofphase stratification visible to unaided normal human vision; i.e., thecompositions may be cloudy or otherwise show evidence of suspendedsecond phases, but preferably do not stratify into more than one liquidlayer or contain any solid particles large enough to see individuallywith unaided normal human vision. If this condition is not fulfilled,there is always some danger of concentration variations due toinhomogeneity of the composition.

The dihydrogen phosphate ions required for component (A) can be suppliedby any soluble salt including such ions. For reasons of economy,ammonium, potassium, and sodium dihydrogen phosphates are preferred,with sodium most preferred. In a working cleaning composition accordingto the invention, the concentration of dihydrogen phosphate ionspreferably is, with increasing preference in the order given, at least1.7, 3.7, 5.7, 7.7, 9.7, 10.7, 11.7, 12.7, 13.7, 14.7, or 15.7 grams perliter (hereinafter usually abbreviated as "g/L") and independentlypreferably is, with increasing preference in the order given, not morethan 100, 75, 50.8, 45.8, 40.8, 35.8, 30.8, 28.8, 26.8, 25.8, 24.8, or23.8 g/L.

Surfactant component (B) is preferably selected from anionic surfactantmolecules including at least one aromatic ring and at least one sulfuratom per molecule. More preferably, this component is selected fromsurfactant molecules including two phenyl rings, which still morepreferably are each bonded by a single bond to a single oxygen atom.Independently, in order to minimize the chance of development ofmalodorous growths of micro-organisms in the compositions according tothe invention, the surfactant molecules preferably contain, withincreasing preference in the order given, at least 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, or10 percent of sulfur, most preferably in the form of at least onesulfonate group bonded to each phenyl ring in the molecule. Also,independently, the surfactants are preferably ammonium, potassium, orsodium salts, most preferably sodium salts. Another independentpreference is that the average molecular weight of the surfactantcomponent preferably is, with increasing preference in the order given,at least 200, 300, 400, 450, 500, 525, 550, or 575 and independentlypreferably is, with increasing preference in the order given, not morethan 1500, 1000, 900, 800, 750, 700, 675, 650, or 625. The single mostpreferred chemical type for surfactant component (B) is sodium salts ofdisulfonated tetrapropylene derivatives of 1,1-oxy-bis-benzene,commercially available from Dow under the trade name DOWFAX™ 2A1.

The amount of surfactant component (B) in a working compositionaccording to the invention preferably is at least, with increasingpreference in the order given, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6,2.8, 3.0, or 3.2 g/L and independently preferably is, with increasingpreference in the order given, not more than 15, 12, 10, 9.2, 8.2, 7.2,6.2, 5.7, 5.3, 5.0, or 4.8 g/L. Independently, in either a concentrateor a working composition according to the invention, the ratio of theamount of surfactant component (B) to the amount of dihydrogen phosphateions component (A) preferably is at least, with increasing preference inthe order given, 0.05:1.0, 0.10:1.0, 0.13:1.0, 0.15:1.0, 0.16:1.0, 0.17:1.0, 0.18:1.0, 0.19:1.0, or 0.20:1.0 and independently preferably is notmore than, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.50:1.0,0.40:1.0, 0.35:1.0, 0.33:1.0, 0.31:1.0, 0.29:1.0, 0.27:1.0, 0.25:1.0,0.24:1.0, 0.23:1.0, 0.22:1.0, or 0.21:1.0.

The presence of optional component (C) in a composition according to theinvention is normally preferred, especially when the metal surface to becleaned is unpainted and a brightening effect on the cleaned surface isdesired. Within the broadest scope of the invention, any acidic materialthat is a stronger acid than dihydrogen phosphate ions may be used forcomponent (C). However, organic acids are generally less preferred,because they appear to be more likely to cause stress cracking ofpolycarbonate plastics than inorganic acids. The single most preferredmaterial for component (C) is orthophosphoric acid. For any particularchemical substance in component (C), the "effective number of acidhydrogen atoms per molecule" is hereby defined as the number of hydrogenatoms per molecule of the substance that are formed by ionization, in acomposition according to the invention, by a reaction with a higher ionproduct constant than that, in the same composition according to theinvention, for the reaction: H₂ PO₄ ⁻ ⃡HPO₄ ⁻² +H⁺. Also, the "effectivemoles of acid" (hereinafter usually abbreviated "EMA") for anyparticular amount of a component (C) according to this invention with aparticular composition consisting of n distinct chemical substances,where n represents a positive integer, each of said distinct chemicalsubstances having an effective number of acid hydrogen atoms permolecule of e_(i), where i represents an integer from 1 to n thatdenotes the i'th substance in the number of distinct chemicalsubstances, each of said distinct chemical substances being present in anumber of moles m_(i), is defined for later use herein by equation (1)below: ##EQU1##

Independently of the chemical nature of the acid, the amount ofcomponent (C) in a composition according to the invention preferably issuch that the ratio of the EMA of component (C) to the number of molesof dihydrogen phosphate ions in component (A) present along withcomponent (C) in a composition according to the invention preferably isat least, with increasing preference in the order given, 0.005:1.0,0.015:1.0, 0.025:1.0, 0.035:1.0, 0.045:1.0, 0.050:1.0, 0.055:1.0,0.057:1.0, 0.059:1.0, 0.061:1.0, 0.063:1.0, or 0.065:1.0 andindependently preferably is not more than, with increasing preference inthe order given, 0.40:1.0, 0.30:1.0, 0.20:1.0, 0.15:1.0, 0.10:1.0,0.090:1.0, 0.085:1.0, 0.080:1.0, 0.075:1.0, 0.070:1.0, or 0.067:1.0.

Ordinarily, antifoam component (D) is not needed in a compositionaccording to this invention, because most such compositions withpreferred ingredients in preferred amounts have not been observed to beprone to excessive foaming. If antifoaming agent should be needed, themost effective ones tested have been found to be PARCOLENE® 95Bconcentrate, P3® Defoamer 2483, and PARCO® Defoamer 14, all availablecommercially from the Parker Amchem Div. of Henkel Corp., MadisonHeights, Mich., USA and FOAM BAN™ MS-30, commercially available fromUltra Additives, Inc., Paterson, N.J.

Component (E) is not normally required for any technical reason, but maybe aesthetically advantageous for certain uses of compositions accordingto the invention.

For various reasons, it is often preferred that many ingredients used inother cleaning compositions should not be present in compositionsaccording to the invention. Specifically, it is increasingly preferredin the order given, independently for each preferably minimized type ofmaterial listed below, that compositions according to the inventioncontain no more than 10, 5,3, 2.0, 1.0, 0.60, 0.35, 0.10, 0.08, 0.04,0.02, 0.01, 0.005, 0.002, or 0.001 percent of each of the followingmaterials: alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and ammonium hydroxides,monohydrogen phosphates, phosphates, condensed phosphates, and sulfates;any chemical form of any metals other than alkali and alkaline earthmetals; nitrates and other oxidizing agents (the others being measuredas their oxidizing stoichiometric equivalent as nitrate) that are notpart of one of the necessary or optional components of compositionsaccording to the invention as described above; alcohols, ethers, etheralcohols, hydrocarbons, halocarbons, halohydrocarbons, aldehydes, orketones that are not part of one of the necessary or optional componentsof compositions according to the invention as described above; andsilicates and oxides of silicon.

Independently of the other preferences stated above, a workingcomposition according to the invention preferably has a pH value that isat least, with increasing preference in the order given, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5,3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, or 4.0 and independently preferably is, withincreasing preference in the order given, not more than 8, 7, 6.5, 6.0,5.8, 5.6, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1, or 5.0.

A process according to the invention normally, primarily forconvenience, is preferably performed at whatever ambient temperature isnaturally prevailing, provided that this temperature is not too low forthe cleaning composition used to remain liquid. Preferably, the cleaningcomposition is used at a temperature of at least, with increasingpreference in the order given, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30° C. Cleaningeffectiveness generally increases with increasing temperature of use, upto at least 50° C. Preferably, the use temperature is not more than 55°C.

A concentrate composition according to the invention contains at leastcomponents (A) and (B) as described above and preferably also containscomponent (C) when the latter is desired in the working composition(s)to be made from the concentrate. More preferably, a concentratecomposition according to the invention contains all of the components ofa working composition according to the invention that are identified byletter above and are desired in the working composition(s) to be madefrom the concentrate composition. Independently of all other preferenceswith respect to concentrates, the concentration in a concentrate of anycomponent of compositions according to the invention that is identifiedby letter above preferably is not less than, with increasing preferencein the order given, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 times larger than anypreferred concentration specified above for the same component inworking compositions and independently preferably is, with increasingpreference in the order given, not more than 50, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, 17,15, 13, or 11 times larger than any preferred concentration specifiedabove for the same component in working compositions.

The invention is explained in greater detail below using workingexamples, and the benefits of the invention are illustrated bycomparative examples.

EXAMPLES AND COMPARISON EXAMPLES

Group 1

Four possible cleaner compositions, as shown in Table 1.1 below, weremade in concentrate form. A 5% by volume solution in water of each ofConcentrates 1.2-1.4 and of sodium hydroxide were made to test forevidence of damage to polycarbonate plastic. Large electrical connectorswith insulating blue polycarbonate plastic housings as actually used bythe Bay Area Rapid Transit System in Northern California were tested bysoaking in these potential working compositions, maintained at normalambient temperatures from 20-25° C. for the times and with the resultsshown in Table 1.2 below. Concentrates 1.1, 1.3, and 1.4 are accordingto the invention and Concentrate 1.2 is not, because it lacks dihydrogenphosphate ions. Concentrate 1.1 is less preferred because of itsspontaneous phase stratification.

                  TABLE 1.1    ______________________________________    CONCENTRATES FOR GROUP 1                     % of Ingredient                     in Concentrate Number:    Ingredient         1.1    1.2     1.3  1.4    ______________________________________    Water              47     34      77.4 77    Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate                       47      0      16   17    Gluconic Acid       0     60      0     0    DOWFAX ™ 2A1 Surfactant*                        6      6      6     6    Pine Oil (odorant)  0      0       0.6  0    Visible Phase Stratification?                       Yes    No      No   No    ______________________________________     Footnote for Table 1.1     *This material is reported by its supplier to be an aqueous solution     containing about 47% of its surfactant ingredients, which are benzene,     1,1oxybis, tetrapropylene derivative, disulfonated, sodium salts.

                  TABLE 1.2    ______________________________________    EFFECT OF WORKING COMPOSITIONS ON POLYCARBONATE    Test Working  Effect on Polycarbonate after Exposure for:    Composition Made From:                  94 Hours      142 hours    ______________________________________    Sodium Hydroxide                  Severely cracked                                Not further tested    Concentrate 1.2                  Slightly cracked                                Not further tested    Concentrate 1.3                  No cracking visible                                No cracking visible    Concentrate 1.4                  No cracking visible                                No cracking visible    ______________________________________

Group 2--Foam Testing of Compositions Containing Antifoam Agents

A concentrate composition according to the invention prepared for thepurposes of these tests had the ingredients and concentrations specifiedin Table 2.1 below.

                  TABLE 2.1    ______________________________________    CONCENTRATE COMPOSITION FOR GROUP 2                         Grams of Ingredient                         per Kilogram    Ingredient           of Concentrate Composition    ______________________________________    Tap Water            756    Anhydrous Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate                         170    75% Aqueous Orthophosphoric Acid                          14    DOWFAX ™ 2A1 Surfactant                          60    ______________________________________

Ordinarily, this concentrate would be used at 5-20% by volume to makeworking cleaning compositions according to the invention. However, forpurposes of this testing, 1% by volume solutions were used instead, toexaggerate the foaming tendency, which is stronger in more dilutesolutions.

The general procedure for antifoam testing was as follows: Three (3)milliliters (hereinafter usually abbreviated "mL") of the concentratewas diluted to 300 mL with cold tap water and shaken in a stopperredmixing cylinder with 500 mL capacity to generate foam. Five (5) drops ofthe antifoam agent being tested were then added, and the mixture shakenagain. If adequate defoaming was achieved by this addition of 5 drops ofantifoam agent, enough additional antifoam agent to produce a totalconcentration of 1% by volume of the antifoam agent in the mixture wasthen added to the mixture to check for any phase stratification or otherevidence of inhomogeneity. If 5 drops of defoamer were not sufficient,additional drops were added until adequate defoaming had been achieved,or until the amount of antifoam agent reached 0.25%. If adequatedefoaming had been achieved with less than 0.25% by volume of antifoamagent in the total mixture, enough antifoam agent to bring itsconcentration to 1% was then added to check for any phase stratificationor other evidence of inhomogeneity.

The antifoam agents tested are shown in Table 2.2, and the foam testingresults, keyed to the identifying numbers given in Table 2.2, aredescribed below after the Table.

                  TABLE 2.2    ______________________________________    ANTIFOAM AGENTS TESTED    Trade Name of Antifoam Agent                     Supplier of Antifoam Agent                                     No.    ______________________________________    PARCO ® Defoamer 14                     Parker Amchem   1                     Div. of Henkel Corp.    P3 ® Defoamer 2483                     Parker Amchem   2                     Div. of Henkel Corp.    10% Aqueous Solution of FOAM                     Ultra Additives, Inc.,                                     3    BAN ™ MS-575  Paterson, NJ    PARCOLENE ® 95B                     Parker Amchem   4                     Div. of Henkel Corp.    ANTAROX ™ LF-222                     Rhone-Poulenc   5    PLURONIC ™ L-61                     Rhone-Poulenc   6    BEVELOID ™ 6244                     Rhone-Poulenc   7    FOAM BAN ™ MS-30                     Ultra Additives, Inc.,                                     8                     Paterson, NJ    ______________________________________     Test Results:     1. Good defoaming with 5 drops. Raising antifoam agent to 1% produced scu     floating on the surface and made the bulk of the liquid opaque.     2. Good defoaming with 5 drops, better than with antifoam agent 1. Raisin     antifoam agent to 1% produced white solid scum floating on the surface an     made the bulk of the liquid translucent.     3. Good defoaming requires 8 drops. Raising antifoam agent to 1% did not     produce any visible phase stratification, and the liquid remained clear.     4. Very good defoaming with 5 drops, even better than antifoam agent 2.     Raising antifoam agent to 1% produced a small oily spot floating on the     surface and made the bulk of the liquid substantially opaque.     5. Little or no defoaming effect even at 0.25%.     6. Little or no defoaming effect even at 0.25%.     7. Good defoaming required 8 drops. Raising antifoam agent to 1% produced     a slight scum floating on the surface.     8. Very good defoaming with 5 drops. Raising antifoam agent to 1% made th     bulk of the liquid translucent, but there was no evidence of phase     stratification.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A process of cleaning a painted, unpainted,or both painted and unpainted soiled metal surface that is in a fixedspatial position with respect to at least one plastic surface, bycontacting the soiled metal surface with an aqueous liquid cleaningcomposition and maintaining relative motion between the liquid cleaningcomposition and the soiled metal surface to remove at least some of thesoil from the metal surface by dissolving, dispersing, or bothdissolving and dispersing the soil in the liquid cleaning composition,the contacting of the soiled metal surface being by a method that alsoresults in contacting at least part of the plastic surface with respectto which the soiled metal surface is in a fixed spatial position withoutdamaging the part of the plastic surface so contacted, wherein theaqueous liquid cleaning composition has a pH value in the range fromabout 3 to about 9 and consists essentially of water; and:(A) dihydrogenphosphate ions and (B) a surfactant component that is selected from thegroup consisting of surfactants that are resistant to attack bymicro-organisms; and optionally, one or more of: (C) an acid componentselected from the group consisting of acids that are stronger acids thandihydrogen phosphate ions and that are not part of any of the precedingcomponents; (D) a component of antifoam agent(s), other than those thatare part of the preceding components; (E) odorants, colorants, or bothodorants and colorants, other than those that are part of any of thepreceding components,the ratio of the amount of component (B) to theamount of component (A) being from about 0.05:1.0 to about 0.5:1.0.
 2. Aprocess according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous cleaning compositionconsists essentially of water and:(A) from about 1.7 to about 50.8 g/Lof dihydrogen phosphate ions; and (B) from about 0.4 to about 12 g/L ofa surfactant component selected from the group consisting of surfactantmolecules including at least one aromatic ring and at least one sulfuratom per molecule; and optionally, one or more of: (C) an acid componentselected from the group consisting of acids that are stronger acids thandihydrogen phosphate ions and that are not part of any of the precedingcomponents; (D) a component of antifoam agent(s), other than those thatare part of any of the preceding components; (E) odorants, colorants, orboth odorants and colorants, other than those that are part of any ofthe preceding components.
 3. A process according to claim 2, wherein, inthe aqueous liquid cleaning composition, (i) the amount of component (A)is from about 3.7 to about 45.8 g/L, (ii) the amount of component (B) isfrom about 0.8 to about 8.2 g/L, and (iii) the ratio of the amount ofcomponent (B) to the amount of component (A) is from about 0.10:1.0 toabout 0.40:1.0.
 4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the aqueouscleaning composition consists essentially of water and:(A) from about5.7 to about 40.8 g/L of dihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) from about 1.2to about 7.2 g/L of a surfactant component selected from the groupconsisting of surfactant molecules including at least two phenyl ringsper molecule and at least 4% by weight of sulfur; and (C) an acidcomponent selected from the group consisting of acids that are strongeracids than dihydrogen phosphate ions and that are not part of any of thepreceding components; and optionally, one or more of: (D) a component ofantifoam agent(s), other than those that are part of any of thepreceding components; (E) odorants, colorants, or both odorants andcolorants, other than those that are part of any of the precedingcomponents,wherein the ratio of the amount of component (B) to theamount of component (A) is from about 0.13:1.0 to about 0.35:1.0 and theratio of the effective moles of acid in component (C) to the number ofmoles of component (A) is from about 0.015:1.0 to about 0.35:1.0.
 5. Aprocess according to claim 4, wherein, in the aqueous liquid cleaningcomposition, (i) the amount of component (A) is from about 7.7 to about35.8 g/L, (ii) the amount of component (B) is from about 1.6 to about6.2 g/L, (iii) the ratio of the amount of component (B) to the amount ofcomponent (A) is from about 0.15:1.0 to about 0.33:1.0, and (iv) theratio of the effective moles of acid in component (C) to the number ofmoles of component (A) is from about 0.025:1.0 to about 0.15:1.0.
 6. Aprocess according to claim 5, wherein the aqueous cleaning compositionconsists essentially of water and:(A) from about 9.7 to about 30.8 g/Lof dihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) from about 2.0 to about 5.7 g/L of asurfactant component selected from the group consisting of surfactantmolecules including at least two phenyl rings per molecule and at least6% by weight of sulfur; and (C) an acid component selected from thegroup consisting of acids that are stronger acids than dihydrogenphosphate ions and that are not part of any of the preceding components;and optionally, one or more of: (D) a component of antifoam agent(s),other than those that are part of any of the preceding components; (E)odorants, colorants, or both odorants and colorants, other than thosethat are part of any of the preceding components,wherein the ratio ofthe amount of component (B) to the amount of component (A) is from about0.16:1.0 to about 0.31:1.0 and the ratio of the effective moles of acidin component (C) to the number of moles of component (A) is from about0.035:1.0 to about 0.10:1.0.
 7. A process according to claim 6, wherein,in the aqueous liquid cleaning composition, (i) the amount of component(A) is from about 10.7 to about 28.8 g/L, (ii) the amount of component(B) is from about 2.2 to about 5.3 g/L, (iii) the ratio of the amount ofcomponent (B) to the amount of component (A) is from about 0.17:1.0 toabout 0.29:1.0, and (iv) the ratio of the effective moles of acid incomponent (C) to the number of moles of component (A) is from about0.045:1.0 to about 0.090:1.0.
 8. A process according to claim 7, whereinthe aqueous cleaning composition consists essentially of water and:(A)from about 11.7 to about 26.8 g/L of dihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) fromabout 2.4 to about 5.1 g/L of a surfactant component selected from thegroup consisting of surfactant molecules including at least two phenylrings, each bonded directly to a single oxygen atom, per molecule and atleast 7% by weight of sulfur in the form of a sulfonate moiety bonded toeach phenyl ring in the molecule; and (C) an acid component selectedfrom the group consisting of acids that are stronger acids thandihydrogen phosphate ions and that are not part of any of the precedingcomponents; and optionally, one or more of: (D) a component of antifoamagent(s), other than those that are part of any of the precedingcomponents; (E) odorants, colorants, or both odorants and colorants,other than those that are part of any of the preceding components.
 9. Aprocess according to claim 8, wherein, in the aqueous liquid cleaningcomposition, (i) the amount of component (A) is from about 12.7 to about25.8 g/L, (ii) the amount of component (B) is from about 2.6 to about5.1 g/L, (iii) the ratio of the amount of component (B) to the amount ofcomponent (A) is from about 0.18:1.0 to about 0.27:1.0, and (iv) theratio of the effective moles of acid in component (C) to the number ofmoles of component (A) is from about 0.050:1.0 to about 0.085:1.0.
 10. Aprocess according to claim 5, wherein the aqueous cleaning compositionconsists essentially of water and:(A) from about 13.7 to about 24.8 g/Lof dihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) from about 2.8 to about 4.8 g/L of asurfactant component selected from the group consisting of surfactantmolecules having a molecular weight in the range from about 400 to about800 and including at least two phenyl rings, each directly bonded to asingle oxygen atom, per molecule and at least 8% by weight of sulfur inthe form of a sulfonate moiety bonded to each phenyl ring in themolecule; and (C) orthophosphoric acid; and optionally, one or more of:(D) a component of antifoam agent(s), other than those that are part ofany of the preceding components; (E) odorants, colorants, or bothodorants and colorants, other than those that are part of any of thepreceding components.
 11. A process according to claim 10, wherein, inthe aqueous liquid cleaning composition, (i) the amount of component (A)is from about 15.7 to about 23.8 g/L, (ii) the amount of component (B)is from about 3.2 to about 4.8 g/L, (iii) the ratio of the amount ofcomponent (B) to the amount of component (A) is from about 0.19:1.0 toabout 0.22:1.0, (iv) the ratio of the effective moles of acid incomponent (C) to the number of moles of component (A) is from about0.059:1.0 to about 0.080:1.0, and (v) component (B) is selected frommolecules which have a molecular weight from about 550 to about 650 andcontain at least about 9% of sulfur.
 12. A concentrate compositionuseful for preparing an aqueous liquid composition for use in a processaccording to claim 1 by dilution with water, said concentratecomposition consisting essentially of water and:(A) from about 10.4 toabout 200 g/L of dihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) from about 2.4 to about72 g/L of a surfactant component selected from the group consisting ofanionic surfactant molecules including at least two phenyl rings permolecule and at least 4% by weight of sulfur; and (C) an acid componentselected from the group consisting of acids that are stronger acids thandihydrogen phosphate ions and that are not part of any of the precedingcomponents; and optionally, one or more of: (D) a component of antifoamagent(s), other than those that are part of any of the precedingcomponents; (E) odorants, colorants, or both odorants and colorants,other than those that are part of any of the precedingcomponents,wherein the ratio of the amount of component (B) to theamount of component (A) is from about 0.13:1.0 to about 0.35:1.0 and theratio of the effective moles of acid in component (C) to the number ofmoles of component (A) is from about 0.015:1.0 to about 0.30:1.0.
 13. Aconcentrate composition according to claim 12, wherein (i) the amount ofcomponent (A) is from about 30.8 to about 180 g/L, (ii) the amount ofcomponent (B) is from about 5.4 to about 60 g/L, (iii) the ratio of theamount of component (B) to the amount of component (A) is from about0.15:1.0 to about 0.33:1.0, and (iv) the ratio of the effective moles ofacid in component (C) to the number of moles of component (A) is fromabout 0.025:1.0 to about 0.15:1.0.
 14. A concentrate compositionaccording to claim 13, consisting essentially of water and:(A) fromabout 58.2 to about 170 g/L of dihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) from about5.0 to about 50 g/L of a surfactant component selected from the groupconsisting of surfactant molecules including at least two phenyl ringsper molecule and at least 6% by weight of sulfur; and (C) an acidcomponent selected from the group consisting of acids that are strongeracids than dihydrogen phosphate ions and that are not part of any of thepreceding components; and optionally, one or more of: (D) a component ofantifoam agent(s), other than those that are part of any of thepreceding components; (E) odorants, colorants, or both odorants andcolorants, other than those that are part of any of the precedingcomponents,wherein the ratio of the amount of component (B) to theamount of component (A) is from about 0.16:1.0 to about 0.31:1.0 and theratio of the effective moles of acid in component (C) to the number ofmoles of component (A) is from about 0.035:1.0 to about 0.10:1.0.
 15. Aconcentrate composition according to claim 14, wherein (i) the amount ofcomponent (A) is from about 60 to about 170 g/L, (ii) the amount ofcomponent (B) is from about 13.2 to about 52 g/L, (iii) the ratio of theamount of component (B) to the amount of component (A) is from about0.17:1.0 to about 0.29:1.0, and (iv) the ratio of the effective moles ofacid in component (C) to the number of moles of component (A) is fromabout 0.045:1.0 to about 0.090:1.0.
 16. A concentrate compositionaccording to claim 15, wherein the aqueous cleaning composition consistsessentially of water and:(A) from about 77 to about 170 g/L ofdihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) from about 15 to about 49 g/L of asurfactant component selected from the group consisting of surfactantmolecules including at least two phenyl rings, each bonded directly to asingle oxygen atom, per molecule and at least 7% by weight of sulfur inthe form of a sulfonate moiety bonded to each phenyl ring in themolecule; and (C) an acid component selected from the group consistingof acids that are stronger acids than dihydrogen phosphate ions and thatare not part of any of the preceding components; and optionally, one ormore of: (D) a component of antifoam agent(s), other than those that arepart of any of the preceding components; (E) odorants, colorants, orboth odorants and colorants, other than those that are part of any ofthe preceding components.
 17. A concentrate composition according toclaim 16, wherein (i) the amount of component (A) is from about 127 toabout 165 g/L, (ii) the amount of component (B) is from about 18 toabout 44 g/L, (iii) the ratio of the amount of component (B) to theamount of component (A) is from about 0.18:1.0 to about 0.27:1.0, and(iv) the ratio of the effective moles of acid in component (C) to thenumber of moles of component (A) is from about 0.050:1.0 to about0.085:1.0.
 18. A concentrate composition according to claim 17,consisting essentially of water and:(A) from about 137 to about 165 g/Lof dihydrogen phosphate ions; (B) from about 24 to about 44 g/L of asurfactant component selected from the group consisting of surfactantmolecules having a molecular weight in the range from about 400 to about800 and including at least two phenyl rings, each directly bonded to asingle oxygen atom, per molecule and at least 8% by weight of sulfur inthe form of a sulfonate moiety bonded to each phenyl ring in themolecule; and (C) orthophosphoric acid; and optionally, one or more of:(D) a component of antifoam agent(s), other than those that are part ofany of the preceding components; (E) odorants, colorants, or bothodorants and colorants, other than those that are part of any of thepreceding components.
 19. A concentrate composition according to claim18, wherein (i) the amount of component (A) is from about 147 to about165 g/L, (ii) the amount of component (B) is from about 28 to about 36g/L, (iii) the ratio of the amount of component (B) to the amount ofcomponent (A) is from about 0.19:1.0 to about 0.22:1.0, (iv) the ratioof the effective moles of acid in component (C) to the number of molesof component (A) is from about 0.059:1.0 to about 0.080:1.0, and (v)component (B) is selected from molecules which have a molecular weightfrom about 550 to about 650 and contain at least about 9% of sulfur. 20.A concentrate composition according to claim 19, wherein component (B)is selected from sodium salts of disulfonated tetrapropylene derivativesof 1,1-oxybisbenzene.